Gordon Irving
Gordon Irving is the Director Group Security for Scottish Power PLC, which is now part of Iberdrola.[1] "Gordon Irving, ScottishPower’s Security Director, has close links and a very good working relationship with the police, having been in the force himself".[2]
Contents
Hiring spies to infiltrate campaigns
An email leaked to The Guardian revealed that Gordon Irving was among two clients of Vericola who sent spies into the environmental movement's meetings
- One was Gordon Irving, security director of Scottish Power who joined the firm in 2001 after 30 years in Strathclyde police where he was head of special branch. The other was Alan Somerville, then a director of coal producer Scottish Resources Group. Telling a colleague to forward information about activists in Scotland to the two companies, Todd wrote: "Send … to usual suspects."[3]
Revolving door between undercover policing and the private spying business
Career
Prior to joining Scottish Power in 2001 Gordon had spent 30 years in Strathclyde Police (Scotland) where he attained the rank of Chief Superintendent. He was Head of Special Branch and latterly a Police Commander in Glasgow where he had responsibility for 800 police officers and support staff.[1]
Police counter-terrorism
Gordon has extensive experience in Counter Terrorism and during his time in Special Branch was involved and led many operations against the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and Loyalist Paramilitary Groups. Additionally, he has extensive experience with the Middle Eastern threat. His experience in Counter Terrorism included involvement in the United Kingdom Counter Terrorism (CT) programme when he would act as umpire at CT exercises throughout the United Kingdom. During his police experience, Gordon was also a senior investigating officer and headed several murder enquiries.[1]
"Embedding security continuity within Scottish Power"
In addition to his security role Gordon is responsible for Business Continuity Management and Crisis Management across the whole group. Since 2001 Gordon has developed and implemented a strategy, framework and policy clearly embedding security and business continuity into each of the business areas within ScottishPower.[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Human Factors In Security An Inaugural Conference accessed 02/02/11
- ↑ Scottish Power Website Corporate Responsability, accessed 02/01/11
- ↑ Paul Lewis and Rob Evans Green groups targeted polluters as corporate agents hid in their ranksThe Guardian, 14/02/11, accessed 14/02/11
